Hollywood is not yet done pillaging the 1980s
for revivals in popular franchises, but last Tuesday was a celebration of an
iconic blockbuster from the ‘90s which will see its first sequel 20 years after
the event release on the 4th of July weekend in 1996. As director
and co-writer Roland Emmerich reminded audience members attending the
anniversary screening at The Zanuck Theater on the Fox Studio lot, Independence
Day was one of the first event films. Though we have now come to expect large
budget blockbusters to hit cinemas every weekend of the summer, this was the
trailblazer that helped pave the way for this tradition.